Should Dixon Change its Speed Limits?

A recent survey by city staff confirmed what many residents might suspect: Lots of drivers in Dixon speed.

The city of Dixon is looking at speed limits around town after a survey measuring the average speeds of drivers, but is unlikely to make many changes. The Dixon City Council will meet Tuesday to discuss the issue.

The survey, which observed several segments of Dixon streets and measured the speeds of 100 vehicles on each segment, found the "critical speed"–the speed at or below which 85 percent of vehicles were traveling.

"The Department of Transportation has determined that this speed most nearly conforms to the safe and reasonable speed," a city staff report states. A speed limit is established within 5 miles per hour of that speed, but can be reduced 5 miles per hour more to account for other factors.

"This is the absolute low limit that can be enforced using radar," the staff report states. "Further reduction in the speed limit is considered a speed trap and would turn many reasonable and prudent drivers into speed limit violators."

Even though the "critical speed" on most of the streets listed in the staff report was faster than the current speed limit, city staff recommend only changing one speed limit in town, and it would be lowered.

Here's what city staff suggest:

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Dixon City Council meeting
7 p.m. Tuesday
600 East A St. 

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Dixon, what do you think of these proposed speed limits? Should they be changed on these streets or other roads in town? Do drivers in town drive too fast or slow? Tell us in the comments section below.